Office of Labor Relations311Search all NYC.gov websites
The New York City Employee IRA
Strategies for Investing Your Money
The NYCE IRA has the same low management fee investment options as the New York City Deferred Compensation Plan.
The NYCE IRA offers two different strategies for investing your money: (1) investing in one of the Pre-Arranged Portfolios, or (2) creating your own portfolio using a combination of the core investment options.Read More
It is recommended that you choose to invest in either one of the pre-arranged portfolios or create your own portfolio from the core investment funds offered.
Selection of investment options depends on many factors and should be considered carefully. It is advisable to consult with an independent professional financial planner and/or investment advisor before making investment decisions.
1. Pre-Arranged Portfolios
For convenience and simplicity, the Deferred Compensation Plan offers pre-arranged portfolios which are made up of varying percentages of the Plan’s core investment options.
The Pre-Arranged Portfolios help answer the question: Where should I invest my money? They offer you a mix of diversified investments and help you if you are not comfortable with creating your own portfolio or if you are looking to invest in a professionally managed portfolio. Read More
The Pre-Arranged Portfolios have the following advantages:
Portfolio Diversification - The pre-arranged portfolios are made up of varying percentages of the Plan's core investment options and are appropriately diversified for the time horizon specified. Studies show that most participants' portfolios are significantly under diversified. These funds offer the simplicity of a single investment vehicle with the benefit of exposure to different asset classes and efficient allocations.
Risk Management - The pre-arranged portfolios are designed to balance the risk participants face between not saving enough money for retirement and ongoing market risk. Given the longer time horizon younger participants have to save, a more aggressive allocation is implemented. As participants age, the asset allocation implemented becomes more conservative.
Portfolio Rebalancing - The pre-arranged portfolios are automatically rebalanced to their target allocations quarterly.
How do the Pre-Arranged Portfolios work?
On a quarterly basis, the asset allocation of each pre-arranged portfolio will be adjusted, shifting to a slightly more conservative mix. This increases the likelihood that a participants account will last longer so that it can serve them throughout their retirement years. When a portfolio reaches its horizon, it will roll into the Static Allocation Fund, where it will remain for the duration of the participants payout.
View the Portfolio Fact Sheet for information about the investment allocation of each portfolio and their expenses.
2. Core Investment Funds
The core investment funds include stable value and variable funds which vary in terms of risk and the potential for return and include several different asset classes. The core funds include the Stable Income Fund, Bond Fund, Equity Index Fund, Socially Responsible Fund, Mid-Cap Equity Fund, International Equity Fund, and Small Cap Equity Fund.
Please consider the investment objectives, risks, fees and expenses carefully before investing. Investment fund profiles are available on this website. Read them carefully before investing.
Making Investment Changes
You can change the investment allocation of future contributions online, or by calling (212) 306-7760, or 888-IRA-NYCE, if outside NYC. Please note that your PIN is required in order to access your account. Read More
You can also transfer money between investment options. Transfers can be made at any time either online, or by calling (212) 306-7760, or 888-IRA-NYCE, if outside NYC. If you make an account transfer prior to 4 p.m. Eastern Time, on a business day, it will be effective the same day and reflected in your account the following business day. If you make a change after 4 p.m. Eastern Time, it will be effective the next business day and reflected in your account two business days later.
Note: Effective March 13, 2009, transfers out of any investment option will be assessed a 2% redemption fee on the amounts transferred into that option within the previous thirty-two (32) calendar days. Any amounts held longer than thirty-two days (32) consecutive calendar days will not be assessed the redemption fee. This is meant to strongly discourage frequent trading in the funds. The fees collected will be re-invested back into the option in order to offset the decrease in fund value associated with the trades.
Statements
You will receive a quarterly NYCE IRA statement that reflects your account balance as of the end of each calendar quarter. If you are enrolled in the New York City Deferred Compensation Plan (NYC DCP), you will receive a statement regarding your NYCE IRA along with the NYC DCP statement you already receive.Read More
Spousal account owners will receive their own NYCE IRA statement.
Your NYCE IRA statement will show the following:
- your balance in dollars (which reflects the amount you would have received if you had withdrawn from your NYCE IRA as of the statement closing date), and if applicable, in units;
- your contributions; and
- investment gains and losses experienced by the NYCE IRA during that specific quarter.
Statements are available during the month following the close of the quarter, and can either be mailed to you or viewed online by signing into your account.